Chilean Fjords and the Antarctic Peninsula on the Norwegian MS Nordnorge, 15 Jan – 2 Feb 2003

Ship’s Route

Dr. Glen Liston is a scientific lecturer on the cruise. Katherine Ihli is along for the ride.

Our cabin on the ship

Heading out to the Chilean fjords

The Chilean Fjords are lined with forested mountains and beautiful foliage.

Small mountain glaciers line the fjords

Last glimpse of Cape Horn before crossing the Drake Passage. We encountered 8 meter (24 foot) seas during the crossing. The lighthouse at Cape Horn

Travel within Antarctic waters and on land is governed by the Antarctic Treaty and the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO). The associated rules govern: 1) Respect for Protected Areas 2) Respect for Scientific Research 3) Safety 4) Protecting Antarctic Wildlife 5) Keeping Antarctica Pristine

To transfer passengers to shore, a door is opened on the side of the ship and stairs are hung out the door. Next, a larger door is opened and the Zodiac boat is lowered into the water.

Before we get board the Zodiac boats, we put on rubber booties. Then we step into disinfectant and walk through a seawater spray. The process is repeated when we reboard the ship.

First stop on the Antarctic Peninsula. Old whaling station at Whaler’s Bay on Deception Island

Neptune’s Window. From here you can see the Antarctic continent.

We begin sailing through the Lemaire Channel … and see our first icebergs.

The icebergs are everywhere

In the heart of the Antarctic Peninsula Mountains

Fin whales follow the boat

Humpback Whale

SEA BIRDS Kelb Gull Wandering Albatross, 3.5 m (12’) wingspan! Cape Petrel

The British station, Port Lockroy, is located on this little island, Goudier Island.

Gentoo penguins at Port Lockroy

Gentoo penguins typically have two chicks

Completely devoid of muscle, these little blobs of fat actually sway in the wind!

Petermann Island

Love Birds

Rare albino Gentoo penguins

We head back through the Lemaire Channel

Abandoned Argentenian base of Almirante Brown in Paradise Bay located on the Antarctic mainland

Glen is stationed at the top of the hill

The ship is on one side, an avalanche on the other! View from the hilltop

After our landing, we take a Zodiac cruise around the harbor

Heading to Culverville Island to view more …

… Penguins

These Gentoo chicks have been herded into what is called a Kindergarden. Just a few adults watch the babies while the rest are out fishing. Yankee Harbor

Arctowski Base, a Polish station

Elephant seals, like huge land-slugs

Weddell seals

This dirty, young chick has not learned to swim yet. It will have to lose it’s downy fuzz first.

Adelie penguins They flop on their bellies and scoot along the snow with their feet.

Rookery at Arctowski Chinstrap penguin

These Chinstrap penguins achieving the closest thing to flight they will ever attain!

On the way to Elephant Island we begin to encounter larger icebergs from the Larsen Ice Shelf

They are all around the ship

Getting bigger..

… and bigger

… and thicker

Thicker ice means higher pressure which creates beautiful blue colors

Some have veins of deeper blue

Others have passengers

Some you could drive a (small) ship through

We say goodbye to the penguins and icebergs and head back to South America

Back across the Drake Passage

Ushuaia, Argentina’s southern-most city. The end of the journey. Photos courtesy of Katherine Ihli, Dr. Glen Liston, and Dr. Bernhard Wessling. All rights reserved.